SAN BERNARDINO >> A 4-year-old child’s arm was severed Saturday evening when two cars collided at Sixth Street and Arrowhead Avenue, police said.

Four adults and five children were taken to hospitals, police said.

“The 4-year-old whose arm was severed is in critical condition,” police Lt. Tim Crocker said. “The status of the others are unknown at this time.”

The driver of one of the cars, who didn’t want his name disclosed and is related to two of the victims, was visibly shaken.

“We were coming back from eating,” he said. “I thought I had the green light, but now I’m not sure. I tried to avoid them.”

He said he, his wife and child were headed home in a Chrysler Sebring after having dinner out when the crash with a Chevrolet Blazer carrying three adults and four children occurred. The child whose arm was severed was in the Blazer.

Police said a bystander held the 4-year-old until rescuers could arrive.

“The Fire Department came back to show this man their appreciation after they transported everyone to the hospital,” an officer at the scene said. “But he had already left the scene.”

San Bernardino police traffic investigators said the area would be blocked off for several hours while they collect evidence.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call police at 909-384-5742.